I’ll call this a kind of “rational hedonism”. So, when we need to make the mortgage or rent and keep our complex lives on track, what might a modern hedonist’s life look like?Ī practical definition might be someone who tries to maximise the everyday pleasures while still balancing other concerns. This puts it well outside Epicurus’ idea of moderate pleasures and self-control. The single-minded pursuit of one intense pleasure at the expense of other aspects of life that bring meaning and pleasure is also counterproductive to living a rich and enjoyable life. Without pleasure, the behaviour is no longer a hedonic one. The uncontrollable “ hunger” has wiped the pleasure away and the best we can hope for is relief. But, somewhere between enjoying an occasional beer and needing a drink before getting out of bed each morning, we’ve passed the tipping point.Īt this stage though, pleasure is no longer the motivation, nor the result, of the behaviour. It can be difficult to pin down the point at which a previously pleasurable behaviour becomes problematic. When pleasure becomes a problemĭependence, addiction, bingeing and compulsive consumption can be thought of as risky or harmful uses of otherwise pleasurable experiences, like using alcohol and other drugs, doing exercise and having sex. Many of the things that commonly give us pleasure can also be used in risky or harmful ways. Well, these activities are good … until they’re not.
And everyone knows the advantages of physical fitness. A regular glass of wine is said to have a protective effect against dementia and heart disease, perhaps due to its antioxidant flavonoids. For example, women who say they are satisfied with their sex life score higher on measures of psychological well-being and vitality. Perhaps the memory is of a very good glass of wine, or those last 50 metres of a long, satisfying run.Īnd these are good things, right? Sexual pleasure is linked with health and well-being. If you close your eyes and think about a time you experienced a tingle of pleasure, chances are you’re remembering a sexual experience, or something delicious you’ve eaten. There is no single stimulus that elicits exactly the same response in everyone all the time: pleasure is an interaction between the stimulus and the perceiver.Ĭhills and thrills: why some people love music – and others don't
Just as different experiences can bring a similar shiver of pleasure, the same experience can conjure a range of responses - from extreme pleasure to definite displeasure - in different people. So, a lover’s caress gives me pleasure, but so can a piece of music, laughing with friends, or simply sitting still in a comfy chair after a frantic day. This is a broad perspective, but one easily applied to our everyday lives. It might help to think of pleasure simply as a subjective state of enjoyment. This is largely due to some highly nuanced philosophical arguments about how we should conceptualise pleasure. Today there are multiple views on what hedonism is. Hedonism has its philosophical roots as far back as Plato and Socrates, but ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus is often credited with articulating an early brand of hedonism based not on a life of untamed appetites, but on moderate pleasures and respect for others. We wait for their liver to rebel or their life to come crashing down around them, as of course it must.īut this kind of behaviour is better termed debauchery – extreme indulgence in bodily pleasures and especially sexual pleasures – rather than hedonism. They indulge their carnal appetites in ways we daren’t, with scant regard for consequences. We find these characters so compelling because they seem to reject the sensible, responsible way to live. Sage, 2007.Futurama’s Hedonism Bot knows what gives him pleasure, and it’s not always the usual suspects. Positive Psychology: The Scientific and Practical Explorations of Human Strengths. “On Happiness and Human Potentials: A Review of Research on Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being.” Annual Review of Psychology, vol. “The Hedonic Treadmill – Are We Forever Chasing Rainbows?” PositivePsychology, 11 February 2019. “What Is Eudaimonic Happiness?” Psychology Today, 2 January 2019. “An Overview of Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being Concepts.” The Routledge Handbook of Media Use and Well-Being, edited by Leonard Reinecke and Mary Beth Oliver, Routledge, 2016. “An Exploration of the Well-Being benefits of Hedonic and Eudaimonic Behaviour.” The Journal of Positive Psychology, vol.
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